Reflective Post

Photo from QuotesGram

I have learned a lot about technology and how important it is in the classroom. Going into this course, I was expecting to learn more about PowerPoint or new computer systems. I have to say that I was glad I was wrong. I got new learn a lot of new things from my textbook, discussions, activities and assignments.

I really enjoyed the textbook. I liked how chapters that were so far apart could all relate to one another in our blog post options. I got a lot out of the textbook and I haven't been able to say that about another course textbook before, so I really enjoyed this one.

I also learned a lot and got new perspectives from all of the discussions. Discussion posts are most of the time the assignments I learn the most from. Not only do I get to get my opinion out there, but I also get to read the opinions of all of my other classmates. I love reading all the different spins and takes on all the different topics we discussed this semester. In almost all of the discussion posts I read, there was some new opinion that I could take and use or apply to my thinking. I like getting new ways to think about things and I think the discussion posts are a great learning tool for that.

I learned the most from completing my assignments and activities trough this course. Personally, I   learn the best by doing, so this was a really great course for me. I got to create a blog, which I never thought I would be doing, ever! I also got to create my own rubric, and evaluate a website. I also learned about a wiki page. Which, if I am being honest, when I first saw the assignment name, Wiki Page, I thought we would have to evaluate or critique a Wikipedia page. I could not have been more wrong, but I was glad I was. I learned a whole new kind of website and got to work with some of my classmates to make an awesome webpage. I also made a WebQuest, which I never heard of before this course. That was a great learning experience for me. The lesson plan assignment was one of my favorite assignments because I got a sneak peak into how working with other teachers will be. I got to work with my classmate and we had some similar opinions and some different ones, but our lesson plan came out great because we worked together and it was better because of our different opinions. I also got to learn how to assist my future ESE or ELL students with the lesson plan project and that was a really good learning opportunity for me. My greatest accomplishment, for me personally, was the teacher webpage. I got to make me own website in this course, and I never, ever, thought I would have to make one, from scratch. I got to put myself a little into the future and make a website about my future class and I loved it. It may not be the most perfect website, but I really enjoyed making it.

I learned a lot of new technology in this class and I am so excited to use it in my future classroom. I truly believe that technology belongs in the classroom, no matter how young the student. I feel that I will be a better teacher because of this course and I can't wait to put my knowledge into action!

Here is a video I found about students who say that technology helps them in the classroom.
Students say Technology Helps in Classroom

Resources:

Tech Quotes. (n.d.). Retrieved June 21, 2016, from http://quotesgram.com/tech-quotes/

W. (2012). Students Say Technology Helps In Classroom. Retrieved June 21, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAgvw7tj6SM

Digital Blog Post E

Concepts to Reflect Upon: Chapter 7

Wordle - Create. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2016, from http://www.wordle.net/create

1) Computer Games as Learning Resources- When I was in school there were not nearly as many computer resources available for us to use. Especially when it came to computer games. In middle school, I played a game on the computer called Fast Math, and it focused on multiplication tables. But that is really the only game I could tell you I played as a learning resource. I think it is so beneficial to the students now that have so many more games to chose from. They even have different types of games, action, puzzles, adventure, and many more. When I was in school, you took what you could get. I look forward to not only showing my students computer games, but also playing them with them and learning with them!

2) Gamification- I found this term to be very interesting. I had never heard of the word gamification until reading this chapter. The book defines gamification as the "application of game elements to non-gaming situations, often to motivate or influence behavior." This is more of a business term than and educational one, in my opinion, however I think I could apply if definition into a classroom. It says that businesses offer purchase rewards and points for winning and purchasing something. I could do the same in my classroom. I could reward the students for doing well on a test, or even on a game they were playing on class. I think it would be cool to reward the students for playing well on a learning website, because then it shows them that I appreciate their effort of trying to learn more by playing games.

3) Strategies for Using Games with Students-  I thought this was a super helpful section of the chapter. It offered great tips and suggestions for helping your students. My favorite two strategies were discussing games and their content, and playing games together. I think those are both so important because it lets the students know that you understand what they want to do. Students don't want to listen to a lecture all day. Students want to practice what they are learning and computer games are a great way to do that. By playing the games with your students it shows them that you want to have fun with them and that you care to learn and do what they are learning and doing. I think it could make the relationship between the student and the teacher stronger, as well as the class as a whole.

Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Wordle - Create. (n.d.). Retrieved June 10, 2016, from http://www.wordle.net/create

Digital Blog Post C

Concepts to Reflect Upon: Chapter 8

1) Teaching Beyond the School Day- I found this concept to be very thought provoking. It made me think back to high school and when I was stuck on a homework assignment or a project. It would have been very nice to have had a teacher that had a texting option or even an office hour that we could email or text during that one hour to ask any questions. It also makes it easier for students to get in touch with their teachers. Some may be embarrassed that they have a problem, others could be too shy. With the texting option, those students could remain anonymous and ask whatever questions they had and feel safe. I will be adding some sort of teaching beyond the school day in my future classroom!

2) Understanding Textspeak and Textisms- I would have never thought that this could even be an issue for me, but by the time I become a teacher there is probably going to be many new textisms and textspeak that I will not know. Students have a way of texting that isn't always easy to read. Sometimes we even question if it is English.  I think it is very important for teachers to be able to read their students messages and maybe even respond in the way they text, just so they feel like they are being understood. The examples in the book were awesome, I was very happy that I could read all of them. That may not be the case when I become a teacher and as the years go by. I will make sure I stay caught up on the textisms and texspeak throughout my teaching career.

Here is a fun little game testing your texting language skills! Good luck :)
https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/c9067d52-acd3-45ee-8ea7-44bb83af1129

3) Using Text to Teach about Spelling- Ironically, the bad spelling in texting can be used to teach proper spelling. By teachers allowing their students to text using incorrect spelling, they are giving them an opportunity to correct their spelling in the future. I will be using this with not only my future students, but also my future children!

http://www.teen.com/2013/06/28/quizzes-personality-trivia-teen-girls/random-quizzes/internet-text-message-slang-trivia-quiz/

Resources

Kahoot! needs JavaScript to work. (n.d.). Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://create.kahoot.it/#quiz/c9067d52-acd3-45ee-8ea7-44bb83af1129/done

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Quiz: How Well Do You Know Your Internet/Text Message Slang? - Teen.com. (2013). Retrieved May 29, 2016, from http://www.teen.com/2013/06/28/quizzes-personality-trivia-teen-girls/random-quizzes/internet-text-message-slang-trivia-quiz/

Digital Blog Post A

The three concepts to reflect upon re: Chapter 1

1) The concept of the iGeneration of Technology users was very interesting to me. I never really thought about how technology affects even the youngest of learners. I thought I wouldn't have to know as much about technology because I want to teach Kindergarten or first grade. That is not the case at all, they have been around technology since they were born! I think my future students, even being the young ones they are, could end up teaching me about technology. I look forward to my future classroom being a good learning environment for not only my students, but for me as well.

2) I thought the TPACK was really interesting. I have never heard of this before this class. TPACK stands for the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge. It refers to teachers bringing three different forms of knowledge together to produce exciting learning experiences for students. It combines content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and technological knowledge. I have observed in classroom where I have seen this happening. They incorporate the curriculum and technology and what the students already know and they make an awesome lesson out of it. I like how tey try and focus on both and not just focus on one part more than another.  I hope that I can one day take TPACK and use it in my future classroom like these teachers in this video.

 

3) Towards the end of the chapter, I saw these two bold words that stuck out to me. Those words were, digital identity.  I have never even thought about having a digital identity in my classroom. Right now, I feel like I have little to no digital identity. The textbook says "your digital identity as a teacher refers to your technology talents and competencies- what you know how to do instructionally and professionally with computers and other new interactive technologies." I know how to do just enough to get by. I am good at learning new things if I have good instructions. Like this blog for instance, I knew what a blog was before this class but I had no idea how to create one. Now look at me, I made one and I am writing in one! Making this blog makes me feel excited to see what else I will get to learn and create in this course!


Resources

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

B, E (2013, Jun 23). TPACK Example. Retrieved May 17, 2016 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a90EvWfoLU

https://ministrywithchildren.com/tag/literacy/